An advise is also Food for Thought

My third submission for thealliance homework. More interesting writing coming right up

Sandy turned and looked outside the window from her seat. The skies were clear except for the clouds that were blocking the sun rays from blinding her eyes. It was 5.32 pm in the evening and she was on her flight back home. This was a 17 hours journey but it felt more than that. Nothing could prepare her for this trip nor what to expect from it.

(Source Image from StockSnap, Pixabay

As she sat next to an old loving couple from Ohio, she thought to herself if she could ever find love just like them. This was so rare and beautiful yet many take it for granted. They held each other’s hands and even laugh at each other’s silly jokes… Not that she was eavesdropping. Well, it was kind of hard not too when they were just so loving with each other.

Sandy felt annoyed and to some extent envious of the couple. She laughed at herself for being so silly. The journey this couple had was probably not as easy as it seems.

Life is all about fighting for what’s right and to be true to yourself.

That was the little advise that Corrine said to her after Sandy introduced herself to the couple.

Nothing else matters unless you find what’s important to you. It’s like the oxygen that you must have to breath, the water you must have to drink and the meat you must eat to live. For me, that’s my one true love, Daniel. I would be nothing without Daniel. For years, I would dive myself into my work life, enjoying the fruits of my hard labour with front line entertainment and the materialistic world. I was the Queen and many would lay down their swords just for me. It was as if I was Helen, Queen of Troy.

Source Image from Claudia, Unsplash

Then, when I finally fell into depression, no one was by my side. No one came to see me at my hospital bed when the doctors said that I needed to amputate my leg due to diebatic. For many nights, I cried myself to sleep. My whole world had turned from the size of a basketball into a golf ball.

I eventually relocated myself into a small nursing home far away from the city so that I would not be reminded of the life I once had, friends who once cherish me and lovers who once adored me.

After listening to Corrine’s life story, Sandy couldn’t help but reflect on her own life.

Sandy’s life has been on the fast lane ever since she was a teenager. She could not remember the last time she had actually sat down and called her Mama or any of her siblings. Then, they were never the speaking type of family anyway. If not for Carlos, her baby brother who had called her two days ago, she wouldn’t even be on this plane.

Sandy, you need to come home. Papa has gone away. He had a heart attack yesterday and Mama really needs you. We all need you. Please come home. Let bygones be bygones.

Source Image from Mark Duffel, Unsplash

In less than 24 hours she was on her way to attend her Papa’s funeral. The man who assaulted, hit and worst, raped her several times when she was still a teenager. Sandy had told Mama what Papa did but Mama just brushed her away. Called her a liar and never to speak of it ever again. Sandy couldn’t bear with the mental torture anymore and made the decision to leave home.

She packed her belongings, or what seemed to be hers and left home in the wee hours of the morning when everyone was still asleep. She took one look at her elder brother, Sam & baby brother, Carlos before she closed the door. They would be fine, she believed that. Papa would never harm them. He had always preferred boys to girls.

Boys grow up to be Men. Girls become Bitches!

Those words will forever stay in her mind and although she has been away for almost 15 years, it seemed like just yesterday Papa had said it to her.

Source Image from Morre Christophe, Unsplash

Miss… Could you please buckle your seat belt. We’re encountering some slight turbulence. Thank You

Sandy immediately put on her seat belt and looked out of the window. Signs of thunder was emerging from the far left of the wings of the plane. Feelings of anxiety crept up from within her stomach and left an uneasy feeling at the back of her throat. Suddenly, she thought of Japan. The new life that she had created for herself after leaving home 15 years ago.

It wasn’t easy for a 15 year old girl to survive in a big city. She had made many mistakes, none of which she is proud of, but in order to survive, she did what was necessary. Drug trafficking and prostitution was top on her list for the first few years. Thankfully, she managed to escape from that dark life after meeting Caleb, her lifesaver.

With Caleb’s help, she found the true meaning of life. He helped her got work in a nearby community centre and even got her back into studies. There wasn’t much money earned from the community centre but it got her cleaned and off the streets. As always, Sandy fell deeply in love for Caleb but he declined and rejected her in kind. Unable to accept the rejection, Sandy left the community centre but not until she graduated from her studies.

Source Image from Victoria Bilsborough

Moving far away from Caleb and her past, Sandy found a new life in Tokyo. With a new name & a fabricated history, Sandy picked up her life once again and worked her way up in an advertising firm. Starting from below as a clerk, she worked her ass off and finally was the company’s Chief Advertising Designer. Putting all her energy and time into the company, she never had time for anything else; never allowing anyone near her emotionally or physically. Until one day, she received a call from Carlos, her baby brother. That was when she dropped everything else & took the first flight back to California.

Corrine was right. Caleb used to tell her that if anyone ever gave him an advise that was worth thinking seriously about, it’s called Food For Thought. She seriously need to decide what is important to her and what makes her happy.

But, will coming back to Papa’s funeral be the right choice for her. Can she face everyone after so long ?